Groups rally to fight private school in Bloomingburg

PINE BUSH — Those looking to stop the development of a proposed private school for girls in Bloomingburg met Sunday afternoon in hopes of increasing their ranks and honing their strategy.

James Nani

PINE BUSH — Those looking to stop the development of a proposed private school for girls in Bloomingburg met Sunday afternoon in hopes of increasing their ranks and honing their strategy.

A steady mist and dropping temperature didn't deter about 60 people from meeting under a park pavilion in Pine Bush, where citizens said they were concerned for their property and school taxes and the rural character of the area.

"This is not a sprint. This is a marathon. We are up against the Terminator. It will not stop," said Holly Roche, one of the leaders of the group against the school, Rural Community Coalition.

The school, which is planned for downtown Bloomingburg, would serve developer Shalom Lamm's as yet unbuilt development of 396 townhouses.

Many residents fear the development, which they say would be Hasidic, would overwhelm their village of some 400 residents, as well as the Pine Bush School District.

Also attending the meeting were members of the Concerned Citizens Group of Pine Bush, a group focused on the rural quality of the Pine Bush Central School District.

"We're trying to get school taxpayers involved," said the group's leader, John Kahrs. "High-density housing is never good for a school district."

Joann Root of Crawford said she didn't care about the religion of those who would be in the school, but about taxes, the area becoming less rural and possible conflicts of interest.

"The school really isn't the problem, it's a symptom of the problem," said Root. "They're not even here and they already say they don't want to be part of our community."

Mamakating Supervisor Harold Baird, who attended the meeting, said he understood people's concern because he has family in Nanuet and Monsey, areas that have Hasidic populations.

"I know what it's all about," Baird said.

But when he referred to a raucous meeting in Bloomingburg in late September that ended with shouts and the police stepping in as "an angry mob scene," the crowd disapproved with shouts. Baird walked away from the crowd.

Mostly, people asked questions about meetings and what they could do to help. Some asked if it were possible to change their mailing addresses from Bloomingburg so as not to affect their property values.

Roche said she has a list of businesses connected to Lamm that she's keeping an eye on for future developments.

"This isn't religious," Roche said. "This is not about anti-Semitism. It's about anti-corruption."